PBA D-League quarterfinals picture set: Freego, Big Chill face Boracay Rum, Blackwater
Freego Jeans and Big Chill seek to formalize its entry into the semifinals as they battle separate foes in Thursday's quarterfinals of the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
The Jeans Makers, who finished the conference in third place, take on sixth-ranked Boracay Rum Waves at 4 p.m. while the No. 4 Superchargers test their mettle against fifth-seed Blackwater in the 2 p.m. curtain raiser.
Freego and Big Chill are the odds on favorites by virtue of their twice-to-beat advantage against their quarterfinals opponents.
After a rousing 5-0 start, Freego faltered in the second half of the elimination round having won just two of its five remaining games to miss an opportunity to grab an outright semifinals berth held by NLEX and Cebuana Lhuillier.
But Freego coach Leo Austria doesn't mind taking the third spot in the quarterfinals.
"At least we just need a win and we are in the semifinals," said Austria.
Boracay Rum ended the elimination round with a victory over PC Gilmore and that is something that the team should be optimistic about, according to Waves mentor Lawrence Chongson.
"We need to build on the momentum that we have acquired from our game against PC Gilmore and carry that momentum against Freego," said Chongson.
Big Chill won seven of its 10 elimination round assignments but with Blackwater’s back against the wall, head coach Aresenio Dysangco expects their opponents to go all out and force a deciding game for a spot in the semifinals.
“We expect Blackwater to come out with a lot of aggressiveness and intensity, so we can't be complacent,” said Dysangco.
Blackwater squeezed into the quarterfinals with a 65-48 win over RnW Pacific Pipes last Tuesday after a series of setbacks following a 3-0 start.
Blackwater coach Leo Isaac said that the team found a new lease of life after their win over the Steelmasters.
"The boys are enjoying the game again so Thursday might be a different story for us," Isaac said.
Isaac said that the team has a reason to be confident after losing by only three points against Big Chill, 58-55, last week. — AMD/JVP, GMA News
Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/244959/sports/basketball/pba-d-league-quarterfinals-picture-set-freego-big-chill-face-boracay-rum-blackwater
